What do you want for your next gun purchase? I'm at a quandry, as I presently have all the guns I want... getting something else at this point would be a significant investment of money for something I probably wouldn't like as much as I like now.

This answer could be an entire article, so I will be as brief as I can. One factor is the low production numbers. The Finnish made Mosin Nagants were not produced on the scale of many battle rifles in WW2. One can compare 21 million Soviet M91-30's to only 130,000 (or so) Finnish M39 rifles to get a pretty clear picture of the number difference. All the Finnish Mosin Nagants are uncommon and some are downright rare. Also Finland has a great and interesting history behind it. A small nation of tough Finns stood up to the largest army in the world and gave much better than it took. The history is compelling and certainly is a factor in collecting. Another key factor is the simple fact that the Finnish made Mosin Nagants are well made and accurate rifles. They can hold their own in accuracy against any military arm made in their time frame. The old notion that cheap prices are why Finns are collectable is false, as the Finnish market is no longer a cheap one. This further goes to prove just how good the rifles themselves are. They have an appeal that is much greater than cheap prices.

What is the most collectable Finnish Mosin Nagant?

You can ask this of five different Finnish collectors and might get five different answers. Really any Finnish Mosin Nagant is a collectable arm but some are more collectable than others. I do think it is safe to say any of the carbines and the snipers rank at the top of most lists. There are a number of experimental versions that were made as well but the chances of finding them are next to none. The fact is that the carbines and snipers are about as rare as one can get but they do surface from time to time. The costs of such an item is indeed reflected by just how uncommon they are. For most "common" collectors the early Finns, like the M91-24, the 1920's made M91's, the M27's, M28's, and M28-30's are great finds and worthy to be called rare collector's items.

How much is my Finnish Mosin Nagant worth?

Talk about the hardest question one can ask.....This really depends on so many factors that any statement on price is really nothing more than a guess or a price range. There are rifles in my collection that I have bought for $50 but I have seen like rifles sell for over $300. One never knows as so much goes into price. Rarity makes price is a pretty simple rule; however, there are many cases when price is set by other standards. What is the rifle worth? It is worth what someone will pay for it.

This answer could be an entire article, so I will be as brief as I can. One factor is the low production numbers. The Finnish made Mosin Nagants were not produced on the scale of many battle rifles in WW2. One can compare 21 million Soviet M91-30's to only 130,000 (or so) Finnish M39 rifles to get a pretty clear picture of the number difference. All the Finnish Mosin Nagants are uncommon and some are downright rare. Also Finland has a great and interesting history behind it. A small nation of tough Finns stood up to the largest army in the world and gave much better than it took. The history is compelling and certainly is a factor in collecting. Another key factor is the simple fact that the Finnish made Mosin Nagants are well made and accurate rifles. They can hold their own in accuracy against any military arm made in their time frame. The old notion that cheap prices are why Finns are collectable is false, as the Finnish market is no longer a cheap one. This further goes to prove just how good the rifles themselves are. They have an appeal that is much greater than cheap prices.

What is the most collectable Finnish Mosin Nagant?

You can ask this of five different Finnish collectors and might get five different answers. Really any Finnish Mosin Nagant is a collectable arm but some are more collectable than others. I do think it is safe to say any of the carbines and the snipers rank at the top of most lists. There are a number of experimental versions that were made as well but the chances of finding them are next to none. The fact is that the carbines and snipers are about as rare as one can get but they do surface from time to time. The costs of such an item is indeed reflected by just how uncommon they are. For most "common" collectors the early Finns, like the M91-24, the 1920's made M91's, the M27's, M28's, and M28-30's are great finds and worthy to be called rare collector's items.

How much is my Finnish Mosin Nagant worth?

Talk about the hardest question one can ask.....This really depends on so many factors that any statement on price is really nothing more than a guess or a price range. There are rifles in my collection that I have bought for $50 but I have seen like rifles sell for over $300. One never knows as so much goes into price. Rarity makes price is a pretty simple rule; however, there are many cases when price is set by other standards. What is the rifle worth? It is worth what someone will pay for it.

so, I am utterly ignorant of rifle culture, which seems to be a very separate animal than handgun culture. Anyone have any links or ideas for a good starting point? i imagine that people's love for their AR's, AK's, Winchesters, Moisins, and Garands can't be total flukes, but around here, it seems that rifle ranges are harder to find, we're not allowed much other than shotguns for hunting, and there isn't much venue for sporting use of rifles (again, I'm in metro Boston) so i'm not sure where the utility/attraction is for the long gun. I might grow to love them, but I think I need to understand the mentality/environment first.

jinxremoving wrote:so, I am utterly ignorant of rifle culture, which seems to be a very separate animal than handgun culture. Anyone have any links or ideas for a good starting point? i imagine that people's love for their AR's, AK's, Winchesters, Moisins, and Garands can't be total flukes, but around here, it seems that rifle ranges are harder to find, we're not allowed much other than shotguns for hunting, and there isn't much venue for sporting use of rifles (again, I'm in metro Boston) so i'm not sure where the utility/attraction is for the long gun. I might grow to love them, but I think I need to understand the mentality/environment first.

Well, it does help to have a place to shoot a rifle- which needs a lot of damn space. And specialized ranges to handle the power of the cartridges.I'm an amateur historian and there is an awesome thrill to shooting a surplus rifle that was part of history. Other people buy them because they are hunters, take part in competitions, or enjoy the hobby of tweaking their rifle for some specific purpose ( those would be AR guys/ gals mostly ).A starting point for a centerfire rifle ( I assume you did not mean a .22 )? Depends on what you want to use it for.

Plus the Mosin is a big bada boom. It kicks like a mule, and it's just this great big solid gun to shoot. Dirt simple too. You're using the official gun of the Russian peasantry's glorious resistance to the fascist invasion

Progurt wrote:Plus the Mosin is a big bada boom. It kicks like a mule, and it's just this great big solid gun to shoot. Dirt simple too. You're using the official gun of the Russian peasantry's glorious resistance to the fascist invasion

Not to mention a descendant of the rifle used in the "glorious" revolution.

Progurt wrote:Plus the Mosin is a big bada boom. It kicks like a mule, and it's just this great big solid gun to shoot. Dirt simple too. You're using the official gun of the Russian peasantry's glorious resistance to the fascist invasion

Not to mention a descendant of the rifle used in the "glorious" revolution.

Way to fuck that one up lenin.

You need to read about the Russian Civil War in depth. Lenin wasn't the only actor in that tragedy.

I definitely get the appeal of the power, and long-range capability, especially in a reasonably priced sniper-able model (ahem, did someone say Springfield 1903?) but my problem is-- I don't hunt (not opposed, just haven't) and I don't know where I'd shoot the durned thing. It's like having a Nissan Skyline and no SCCA track to blow past Hondas on...

Progurt wrote:Plus the Mosin is a big bada boom. It kicks like a mule, and it's just this great big solid gun to shoot. Dirt simple too. You're using the official gun of the Russian peasantry's glorious resistance to the fascist invasion

Not to mention a descendant of the rifle used in the "glorious" revolution.

Way to fuck that one up lenin.

You need to read about the Russian Civil War in depth. Lenin wasn't the only actor in that tragedy.

jinxremoving wrote:I definitely get the appeal of the power, and long-range capability, especially in a reasonably priced sniper-able model (ahem, did someone say Springfield 1903?) but my problem is-- I don't hunt (not opposed, just haven't) and I don't know where I'd shoot the durned thing. It's like having a Nissan Skyline and no SCCA track to blow past Hondas on...

I have a couple ranges in my area where I can shoot my Mosin and my .30-30; usually they require (especially for the Mosins) that you use brand new ammo and not military surplus, and that you use lead-tip and not FMJ rounds. What state do you live in, and how strong is your Google-fu?

Progurt wrote:Plus the Mosin is a big bada boom. It kicks like a mule, and it's just this great big solid gun to shoot. Dirt simple too. You're using the official gun of the Russian peasantry's glorious resistance to the fascist invasion

Not to mention a descendant of the rifle used in the "glorious" revolution.

Way to fuck that one up lenin.

You need to read about the Russian Civil War in depth. Lenin wasn't the only actor in that tragedy.

Indeed. The isolation of the revolution in a backward country and the devastation unleashed on the early Soviet regime were also what contributed to the rise of Stalinism; the rise of Stalinism was not due to some "inherent defect" of Lenin and the Bolsheviks.

I would like to get an M1911A1 variant for my next gun, butI probably won't be buying another gun anytime soon, given that I do not have as much money to spare since I stopped renting with a roommate last year. I am also hoping to return to college in the spring as well.

Of course, there are many M1911A1 variants with varying prices. I don't think my first one would be a match grade pistol by any means, but I am not sure what to go with. I have seen cheaper M1911A1 variants selling for $400.00, give or take (some of these are Rock Island Armory guns). Are these cheaper ones any good? Is the low price due to them being made in the Philippines, or is it due to shoddy craftsmanship? I have also seen some more expensive, mid-range ones made by Springfield Armory, Inc. and Remington.